Did you know that washing your hands is one of the most important steps you can take to avoid getting sick and spreading germs to others (CDC.gov)? Now is the perfect time to make sure you’re properly washing your hands. At the Family Health Clinic, we want you to have a healthy and happy holiday season, so be sure to read through the information below.
The 5 Steps of Proper Hand-washing
The Centers for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC) lists five steps for you to use to make sure you’re correctly washing your hands. Their steps are:
- Wet your hands with clean, running water (warm or cold), turn off the tap, and apply soap.
- Lather your hands by rubbing them together with the soap. Be sure to lather the backs of your hands, between your fingers, and under your nails.
- Scrub your hands for at least 20 seconds. Need a timer? Hum the “Happy Birthday” song from beginning to end twice.
- Rinse your hands well under clean, running water.
- Dry your hands using a clean towel or air dry them.
How can I wash my hands for 20 seconds?
Check out the infographic below by the World Heath Organization to learn the different motions to make when washing your hands.
In total, this should take you around 20 seconds, which according to the CDC, is the minimum time you should spend washing your hands.
Know your hands are dirty but don’t have water?
Make sure you keep a hand sanitizer with you that contains at least 60% alcohol. While alcohol based hand sanitizers can reduce germ numbers, they do not eliminate all types of germs and might not remove harmful chemicals (CDC.gov). That’s why it’s important to know the proper way to wash your hands.
Catch a cold? Come to the Family Health Clinic.
Sometimes, even with proper hand-washing technique, we can catch colds and other illnesses. If you find yourself under the weather, make an appointment with the Family Health Clinic. We are also a primary care facility, so if you’re needing more than just a brief visit, we have you covered as well.
